It’s fair to say Pope Francis is dominating headlines around the world, so he’s doing the same on The 15th Station. Whether it’s the opening of the Jubilee Door – and Year of Mercy – or his calling for swift action in response to the Paris climate talks, Francis continues to be a media rock star. And apparently he’s also something of a musical rock star, with a new CD launched featuring the Pontiff. There’s other discussion of music on this month’s show, with James, Don and Gavin wondering if there’s such a thing as “objectively good” Church music. Merry Christmas from The 15th Station family and we’ll speak with you all in January for Episode 100!

Pope Francis isn’t going to let the Vatican leaks and the associated scandals slow down his papacy — and he’s told some of Italy’s Church leaders as much in a major speech. It’s maybe that attitude or just Francis’s demeanour, but his recent trip to the United States has seen his popularity — and people’s comfort with their own faith — improve. That’s happened while bishops and cardinals have been battling over what the Synod on the Family really said about Communion for the divorced and remarried. Perhaps we all just need to download a new app to help us find (or stay on) the path to holiness.

The second episode of the Synod on the Family — and comments from Pope Francis and a New Zealand lay woman — set the stage for this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Francis’s trip to the United States and the sacking of a gay Vatican priest who called for changes to Church teaching also feature on the show, along with a new take on Scripture through the lens of poverty and justice. Lucy, James, Don and Gavin also reflect on papal humour from a rabbi. Just another month on The 15th Station.

The Syrian refugee crisis has dominated the world news, and it rightly leads this month’s episode of the podcast, including the reaction of the Pope and Catholic bishops around the world. Thankfully, governments around the world have responded to pressure from those leaders, and there is increasing support for those in such difficult circumstances. Other big stories from around the Catholic world include the Pope’s announced changes to absolution laws and annulment procedures, the New Zealand Government’s changes to Easter shopping laws and Donald Trump’s ideas about “scaring” Pope Francis. If that’s got you stressed out, maybe a relaxing nap atop a 55-metre-high wind turbine might be just what you need. Enjoy the show.

Pope Francis’s summer has surely been soured (#sarcasm) by new polls in the United States that show his popularity is waning across the board — with conservatives and progressives alike not as enamoured with the Pontiff as they were a year ago. The poll comes a few weeks before his visit to the US. When it comes to Antarctica, though, there won’t be any more visits from Catholic priests, with money and a lack of demand seeing an end to New Zealand priests ministering on The Ice. In other news, the divorced and remarried debate continues and a Kiwi priest with a colourful past gets an important international gig. But it’s the papal declaration on the secret to happiness that has Lucy, Don, James and Gavin really excited. Enjoy the episode.

Pope Francis has been moving — literally — and shaking, as always, with his trip to South America and the release of his much-anticipated encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, dominating Catholic headlines across the globe. They dominate much of the discussion on The 15th Station as well, but a couple of New Zealand stories also feature on this month’s show. After some discussion, the New Zealand bishops have decided they won’t be pushing for a new translation of the new translation of the Mass. In a rural part of the South Island, meanwhile, they’re wondering if they’ll have Mass at all. As for Katy Perry, she’s just trying to buy some Catholic land. All that and more, with Don, James and Gavin.

In this month’s episode, the upcoming papal encyclical on ecology and the environment, to be released on June 18, takes top billing. As Vatican-watcher John Allen points out, there are likely to be a number of false claims in the media when Laudato Sii is released. The panel — James, Helen, Don and Gavin — also talk about the changing demographics of Kiwis, new measures to hold bishops accountable for failing to protect children and the “Yes” vote to same-sex marriage in Ireland. And the show ends with a reflection on TV’s 1980s hard man Mr T and his Christian faith. Enjoy the show.

Pope Francis is front and centre again in this month’s episode of The 15th Station. He’s a feminist. Or is he? He has an “Effect” named after him, which is pretty impressive. In other news, the NZ bishops are concerned about attempts to change euthanasia and assisted dying conventions, lay Catholics are trying to oust an American Archbishop and an Auckland Catholic man is none too pleased with a large statue of a Hindu deity at a house across the street. Join James, Don and Gavin for another bumper episode of The 15th Station.

The Station 15 crew is basking in the post-Easter glow, but the Pope’s Easter message and its plea for peace around the world highlights the great challenges that are being faced by many, including Christians in various parts of the globe. Despite those challenges, the Church continues to grow, but some experts are predicting quite a change in the religious adherence of people over the next several decades. Maybe that will help us better understand people of other religions or none, but it’s too late for a New Zealander who’s been jailed in Myanmar for causing religious offence. Meanwhile, some people hope it’s not too late to have another attempt at an English translation of the Mass. All this and more with Helen, Gabriel, James, Don and Gavin in a busy episode of The 15th Station.

Lucy, James and Gavin offer their musings on the big Catholic stories of the month, and in New Zealand, the biggest story was the New Zealand bishops quickly and publicly pledging their support for the Government’s decision to send military personnel to the Middle East to help train those who are fighting against Islamic State/IS/ISIS/ISIL. As the violence and barbaric acts escalates, the bishops said people “can no longer watch on from the sidelines”, and echoing comments from Pope Francis on the threat of Islamic State. The Pope makes two other appearances in the show, talking about the possibility he could be assassinated, and also for his decision to allow a homeless man to be buried inside the Vatican. Back in New Zealand, there are concerns about the sanctity of the confessional. All that and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.

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The 15th Station is our active monthly news podcast. We get a panel of Kiwi Catholics together to provide a Catholic perspective on the news and current events of the month.

Catechiwi is our archived catechesis podcast where we get a guest theologian from around the country or the world to speak on an aspect of the Catholic Faith.

Ignition leverages our partnerships with organisations like Hearts Aflame to provide a back catalogue of amazing lectures and talks from international speakers. We divide these talks up into multi-part podcasts.